Target assembly for marble game



Oct. 29, 1957 F. R. RUTH 2,811,358

TARGET ASSEMBLY FOR MARBLE GAME Filed May 10, 1955 INVENTOR 46 Z I1J 1 42 Fl/VLEY R. RUTH F1613 BY M a 4 03 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent TARGET ASSEMBLY FOR MARBLE GAME Finley Robert Ruth, New Martinsville, W. Va. Application May 10, 1955, Serial No. 507,253 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-102) This invention relates to a marble game and more particularly to a target assembly to 'be used in a marble shooting game wherein the marbles are shot by hand at targets supported above the playing surface.

There are numerous marble games in existence today which require varying degrees of skill and different amounts of equipment. However, there are only a few which provide arrangements for playing a plurality of games in which the skill required may vary over a wide range. It is also desirable that games of this type be adapted for both indoor and outdoor use.

In view of the above, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a target assembly for a marble shooting game susceptible to many variations covering a wide range of skill.

Another object is the provision of a marble shootinggame having a target assembly adaptable for indoor or outdoor use.

Yet another object resides in the provision of a target assembly having a resilient spherical member supported by a rod-like element which extends centrally upward from the bottom of a marble nesting tray.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the target assembly as used outdoors;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing details of the outdoor embodiments; and

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention especially adapted for indoor use.

In one kind of a game in which this target assembly is used, a plurality of these assemblies are consecutively numbered and positioned over a playing area. The players shoot at the targets in order proceeding from one target to another according to target numbering.

The target assembly comprises a nesting tray with a rod-like support extending from the bottom of the tray and upwardly thereabove with a resilient, spherical target member at the top.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the outdoor target assembly comprises a nesting tray 12 having a bottom 14 with an upwardly and outwardly sloping wall 16 extending from its periphery. The bottom 14 has a hole 18 in the center thereof. A rodlike support 20 of metal or the like having a stop member 22 thereon extends partially through the hole 18 so that the stop bears against the upper face of the bottom 14 of the tray. The upper end 24 of the support is threaded and the lower end 26 is pointed.

A spherical target member 28 of resilient material such as spongerubber has a recess formation containing a 2,811,358 Patented Oct. 29, 1957- 2 threaded bushing 30. The target member 28is threadedly mounted on the. upper end of the support 20 by engage ment of the bushing 30 and the threaded upper'end 24.

In use, a target assembly is fixed in position as follows: The nesting tray 12 is placed at the desired location on the playing surface and the support 20, with the target member mounted to the upper end 24, is inserted through the hole 18 in the tray bottom 14. with the pointed end 26 foremost. This pointed end is forced down into the ground until the stop member 22 bears against the upper face of the tray bottom 14. Thus the nesting tray 16 is firmly held in place on the playing surface and the target member 28 is fixed in position above. the nesting tray.

The indoor target assembly 40 is shown in Fig. 3. This assembly includes the same general combination of elements as the outdoor model except that there is no pointed rod element extending below the tray bottom, so that the bottom of the tray may rest evenly on the playing surface. As in the outdoor model, the target assembly comprises a nest tray 42 having a bottom 44 with an upwardly and outwardly sloping wall 46 extending from its periphery. A small block 48 having a threaded hole is centrally secured on the upper face of the tray bottom. A rodlike support 50 having a threaded lower end is secured in the threaded block 48 to position the support in a vertical manner. A resilient spherical target member 52 having a threaded bushing 54 therein is threadedly secured on the threaded upper end of the support 50. Obviously, there are many other ways in which the support can be secured to both the tray and the target member. However, for ease of handling and storage, it is desirable that the support be separable from the nesting tray.

In actual practice, it has been found that a spherical rubber tar-get approximately one and three-quarter inches in diameter is appropriate when used with a nesting tray four to five inches in diameter across its open face. A target of rubber or the equivalent appears to be desirable because it causes the marble, when projected against the target, to actively bounce therefrom.

The height of the tray wall should be substantially greater than the diameter of the marbles being used. Due to the fact that some games require that the marble be projected against the target and yet not permitted to fall into the nesting tray, the height of the target above the tray becomes important. The target should be placed above the tray bottom at a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the open end of the nesting tray. This provides a clear space between the target and :all parts of the tray, whereby a marble striking the target may bounce directly into the tray.

All of the aforementioned ratios and dimensions are subject to modification depending upon the particular type of game in which the target assembly is used.

It is to be understood that variations may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principles of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A target assembly for use in a marble shooting game wherein the marbles may be projected at a supported resilient target and may be caught and retained beneath the target, said target assembly comprising: a marble nesting tray of a circular cross-section; a' rodlike support of relatively small diameter extending tipwardly from the center of the bottom of the tray; and a resilient spherical target fixed to the upper end of the support thereby positioning the target directly above the center portion of the tray and providing a clear space between the target and all parts of the tray, whereby a marble striking the target may bounce directly into the tray.

2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the bottom of the tray has a hole centrally positioned therein and the lower section of the rodlike support extends through the hole to retain the nesting tray in position on a playing surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Akerberg June 2, 1914 Lestage Oct. 16, 1928 Erickson July 23, 1935 Johnson Apr. 8, 1941 Clement Dec. 9, 1941 Bouchard July 19, 1949 Ward Jan. 19, 1954 

